Police Sgt. Don Cobb said Hazelwood was attempting "touch and go" landings and takeoffs when the aircraft flipped and landed on its top in the river. According to a release from the Fort Smith Police Department, the plane was designed to land on water, but because the landing gear was down instead of up, the gear caught on the water and caused the plane to flip.

Cobb said the plane was floated downriver before being pulled from the water.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard have been notified of the crash, authorities said.